Horn Drupe

Drupella cornus

Horn Drupe is a marine gastropod mollusk characterized by its whitish shell, which typically measures between 28 mm and 40 mm in size. The shell features four rows of spiny, pointed nodules with smaller spines interspersed between them. Its oval aperture is yellow, and the outer lip contains three to four teeth, making it distinct from similar species. Divers may encounter this species in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, particularly around coral reefs where it is often found on or under tabular corals of the genera Acropora and Montipora, as well as on hard substrates in shallow waters up to 75 meters deep. In areas lacking these corals, it may also feed on other species like Porites and Pocillopora. As an obligate corallivore, Horn Drupe feeds on coral tissue, which can lead to significant damage to coral cover if populations become abundant. The snail is particularly attracted to Montipora corals, especially when these corals secrete montiporic acids. Horn Drupe lays benthic egg capsules that hatch into planktonic veliger larvae, indicating a non-broadcast spawning strategy. Encounters with this species during dives may reveal its grazing behavior on corals, providing insight into its role in the reef ecosystem.